Chapter 105 "You're Julian's girlfriend. If you want to know something, ask him directly. No need to go through me. I'm only his so-called sister in name." Sydney kept her tone calm. She only wanted to draw a line so that Charlotte would not waste her energy on her. What she did not expect was the spark in Charlotte's eyes. Charlotte leaned in with a playful wink. "I'm his girlfriend? Did Mr. Sterling tell you that himself?" Sydney froze. The thought hit her that she might have completely misread Charlotte and Julian's relationship. "No.
I just made an assumption." Charlotte winked again, smiling broadly. "Well, that must mean you approve of me then. As your potential sister-in-law." Sydney suddenly understood what it meant to talk too much and dig yourself deeper. Whether she approved or not did not matter, just as Julian had told her 8 years ago that she was not truly his sister. By the end of lunch, she had not cleared up a thing. Worse, Charlotte seemed even more enthusiastic. "Syd, did you drive here? If not, I can drop you back." Sydney shook her head. "No need. The clinic's right across the street.
Two minutes on foot." "Alright then. Next time, let's plan another meal." "Sure." Back at the clinic... Sydney picked up her car and drove to a senior schoolmate's jewelry studio. She asked her to recreate the pendant as a one-to- one replica. No two gemstones could ever be truly identical, but they could at least make it close. "That's easy," Harold Edwards said at once. "I'll need a few days to source a similar stone. Come by in a week, or I can deliver it." Relieved, Sydney smiled. "I'll pick it up." Afterward, she stopped by the lab to finish some work. Later that evening...
Sydney's phone buzzed. "Syd," Caleb's voice came warm, polished, practiced. "You're still staying at the Haven Building, right? I'll come pick you up tonight." Sydney blinked. "Pick me up?" "Tonight's the charity auction. You forgot?" Caleb chuckled. "I promised I'd buy you something you like. As an apology." She had, in fact, forgotten. Thinking back, she vaguely recalled him mentioning it, but her mind had been entirely on the pendant. She had not agreed one way or another. "I don't really have time tonight," she said flatly, her hands still moving over her work.
"Still mad at me?" Her brows pinched. "I'm just not interested in auctions. And yes, I really don't have the time." But to Caleb, her calm tone sounded like sulking. Remembering the cold, distant look in her eyes a few days ago, he grew restless, desperate for reassurance. "No matter how busy, you still have to get off work. If you don't want the auction, I'll wait at Sterling Corp.'s office for you. When you're done, 1/2 we'll grab dinner." He could not accept this distance. He needed to prove to himself she was still his wife and the docile girl she used to be. 'Dinner alone.
Or the auction...' she thought. After a moment's hesitation, Sydney chose the lesser evil. "Fine. Which hotel is hosting the auction? I'll finish up, change at home, and head there directly." "I'll pick you up from Haven." Caleb's voice lightened with relief. She was still willing to appear with him in public and acknowledge herself as Mrs. Hampton. That meant she had not given up on their marriage completely. "Alright." As long as it was not dinner alone, she could endure it. When the call ended, Sydney quickly wrapped up her work and drove home.